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Published on: July 31, 2017
Perioperative considerations in children with autism spectrum disorder
Bistra G Vlassakova1, Dimitris E Emmanouil
1aDepartment of Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA bDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Anesthesiologists face challenges managing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review offers current recommendations for their perioperative care, emphasizing individualized strategies to minimize adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a rapidly growing neurodevelopmental disorder globally.
- Research advances have increased recognition and awareness of ASD.
- Etiology involves genetic, environmental, biological, and developmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current experiences and recommendations for perioperative management of children with ASD.
- To address the challenges anesthesiologists face with this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of anesthesia and perioperative management strategies for patients with ASD.
- Analysis of recent publications and case reports.
Main Results:
- Anesthesia literature primarily comprises case reports.
- Recent publications focus on management strategies and perioperative outcomes.
- Patients with ASD are a heterogeneous group requiring general anesthesia for various procedures.
Conclusions:
- Individualized behavioral assessment and stress-alleviation are crucial for optimal perioperative outcomes in children with ASD.
- Familiarity with patient-specific needs is paramount for a smooth perioperative course.
- Minimizing adverse events requires tailored anesthetic management.
Purpose Of Review:
Children with autism often present a challenge to the anesthesiologist. This review summarizes the current experiences and recommendations for the perioperative management of this unique group of patients.
Recent Findings:
Autism is the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disorder in the world. Increased recognition and public awareness of the disease is driven largely by the advances in research. A large body of evidence exists that identifies the role of genetic, environmental, biological, and developmental factors in the origin of autism. The anesthesia literature consists mostly of case reports. Recent publications are reporting management strategies and evaluation of this patient population's perioperative experiences.
Summary:
Patients with autism spectrum disorder are a heterogeneous group and often need general anesthesia for different procedures and studies. Familiarity with each patient's behavioral specifics and efforts to alleviate stress is of paramount importance for a smooth perioperative course with minimal adverse events.
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